Snakes for the New Year

With the New Year, the Chinese zodiac turns from the dragon to one of the world's most despised animals.

Feb. 9, 2013 1:52 p.m. ET

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With the New Year, the Chinese zodiac turns from the dragon to one of the world's most despised animals -- snakes. Here, snake farm owner Huang Kuo-nan kissed a cobra during a performance for visitors in Tainan, southern Taiwan.
Pichi Chuang/Reuters…

Chen Yuxiang, was raising a Burmese python as a pet at his home in Wuhan, Hubei province. The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, begins on Sunday.
Darley Shen/Reuters…

A reticulated python is seen at a snake farm ahead of the Spring Festival in Tainan, southern Taiwan.
Pichi Chuang/Reuters…

Chen Yuxiang fed a mouse to his pet python in Wuhan, Hubei province. The New Year's season is implacably festive, and people have been out in force in cities across the region in recent days, stocking up on provisions and traditional new year symbols.
Darley Shen/Reuters…

Pei Hao played with one of his pet snakes in Wuhan, Hubei province.
Darley Shen/Reuters…

A worker played with a snake at the Snake Culture Museum in Zisiqiao village. The snake's last two years didn't go so well: 2001, with the Sept. 11 attacks, and 1989, when Chinese forces crushed pro-democracy protests around Tiananmen Square.
Eugene Hoshiko/AP…

A worker walked past snakes in hibernation at the Snake Culture Museum in Zisiqiao village. Some wonder if this one also could hold bad tidings.
Eugene Hoshiko/AP…